ROTTEN TOMATOES: Edward Norton Producing Obama Documentary

Edward Norton Producing Obama Documentary

Star's Class 5 Films shopping behind-the-scenes look at senator's campaign.

by Jeff Giles | March 13, 2008

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This summer, audiences will be focused on Edward Norton's high-profile gig as the star of The Incredible Hulk -- but behind the scenes, the actor will be working to bring a far more realistic story to the screen.

Variety reports that Norton's Class 5 Films has begun looking for a partner to distribute its documentary about Barack Obama's presidential campaign, set for release in 2009. The film, directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams, started shooting before Obama declared his candidacy; in fact, according to Norton, inspiration struck for the filmmakers after hearing the senator deliver his address during the 2004 Democratic National Convention:

We were all so struck by Barack's speech and talked about how exciting it was to see someone from our generation, not our parents', make his presence felt in such an inspiring way. It was akin to the way I remembered my dad describing how he felt when Kennedy gave his inauguration speech. At the time, he was the new senator from Illinois.

None of us had voted for him or contributed to his campaigns. None of us was saying, 'I want to back this guy for president.' It was more this generational experience, of seeing someone we felt represented us in a very unique and fresh way, and the desire to explore what would happen to the first person our age who staked a claim to national leadership.

Obama granted access to Rice and Sams' cameras during his 2006 trip to Africa, and they've been with him ever since; as Norton points out, "A lack of material won't be our problem, there are hundreds of hours of tape already. We've got to do the work."

Source: Variety

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(1-20 of 53 posts) | Reply

Matanuki writes:
on Mar 13 2008 05:44 AM

Way to go, Norton. I for one am looking forward to it.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Mar 13 2008 05:53 AM

As am I.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Mar 13 2008 06:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#1630096)
I'll tell ya what though, Elixor. It'll be nice if this thread doesn't turn into a circus like some of the stuff I'm seeing over at aol. Mention Obama there, and here come the racists with their "don't vote for the monkey" rants. 2008 and folks are still living in the stone age (with apologies, of course, to the actual stone age). ;-)

(Reply to this)

xenogears writes:
on Mar 13 2008 06:48 AM

I'm Glad to hear this. I'd even goe see this in theaters.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 13 2008 07:45 AM

Norton is like the next Clooney or something...vote McCain! Screw this democratic circus. A woman and a black guy whatever (yawn)

(Reply to this)

Sarge77 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 07:48 AM

More propaganda. Obama who has no ideas, just alot of "hope" and "change" talk. Thinking people need not apply. Emotion only campaign. That's what liberalism is anyways. All emotion.

(Reply to this)

jacketman writes:
on Mar 13 2008 07:55 AM

Then why aree the educated people the ones voting for him?

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Mar 13 2008 09:03 AM

Not only do I look like Ed Norton, I also think like him! Weird.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Mar 13 2008 09:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#1630188)
lol. Nicely put. And a fair question.

(Reply to this)

bigbrother writes:
on Mar 13 2008 09:31 AM

Not to sound ageist, but isn't he a bit too young for a documentary? I mean yeah he's been a senator, but you'd have a tough time doing a 2 hour film about the latest filibuster, unless it's going to be just one of those documentaries "on the road with Barack" where they document his campaign. That's kinda what I'm hoping for, cause really anything other than that just really doesn't interest me at this point.

(Reply to this)

agniyo writes:
on Mar 13 2008 09:33 AM

Jacketman,

Perhaps the educated have read The Audacity of Hope, which is impressive in scope and, like virtually everything else Obama does, inspiring.

One thing he keeps returning to is the idea that partisan scuffling has completelty gotten in the way of what politics should be: the gathering of qualified people to intelligently solve problems.

Sarge77, Obama has plenty of ideas. My guess is that you haven't checked him out thoroughly, which is not suprising, since the media doesn't do him justice -- and for its buzz-word, blurb-obsessed structure, simply can't.

Donwillymo, you can't possibly be serious. You must just be trying to get a rise out of people. Tell me you are.

(Reply to this)

agniyo writes:
on Mar 13 2008 09:35 AM

P.S. To Jacketman, I agree that your question is hilarious! : )

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Mar 13 2008 09:43 AM

So, Ed Norton is first of the mark with an Obama documentary.
Oprah must be totally pissed!

(Reply to this)

reavus4983 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 10:15 AM

Too bad it'll be out too late for potential Obama voters in this election.

(Reply to this)

kissman24 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 10:59 AM

I'm there. Sounds great!

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:29 AM

In reply to this comment (#1630101)
I hear ya Matanuki. I think (and hope) that a lot of those people are saying such things just to get a rise out of people, which is what a lot of people like to do on BBs. A lot of those people probably were original AOL members, which at first (not so much anymore) was the Stone Age of internet access ;) It was just terrible, easy to use, but really poor access and service.

In general I wish that we didn't have all the classifications of who's voting for who and that media analysts didn't spend so much time covering such things. All this should be meaningless if you're a rational thinker and are interested in voting for the way you want your government to be run. How about covering campaign material or digging into and comparing candidates similarities and differences on their proposed plans?! All we hear about is who's voting for who, and get regurgitated campaign propaganda from all sides.

A little too much talk on politics, sorry. I do think that this could be a good documentary, especially if Obama gets nominated for President.

(Reply to this)

thewombat06 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:29 AM

In reply to this comment (#1630169)
whatevs man. another old white guy? no thanks

(Reply to this)

glhxckid writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:31 AM

Ron Paul 2008.

(Reply to this)

rambo- killer #2 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:10 PM

edward norton plus obama equals gold

(Reply to this)

xenogears writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:25 PM

In reply to this comment (#1630173)
You do realize that the overall stand of the conservative republican party is based on feeling, correct. The Trickle down effect of businesses first only works properly if the employer who gets all these tax breaks and extra profit FEELS like sharing with the employees, but he is not obligated to do so.

And maybe some emotion is needed since we are almost done with 8 years of a mindless idiot who has no real emotion or real care about the majority of people he is supposed to be leading. Emotion is definitly a plus because maybe strong emotion will keep the next president from lying to the people and giving false reasons for sending our brothers and sisters to die over BullS**t.

(Reply to this)